Differential gearing.



H. L. WARNER. DIFFERENTIAL GEARING.

APPLICATION PILEDSBPT. 25, 1909. Y

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U'Nr'rrun sra'rus PATENT onirica.

HUGH L. WARNER, OF MUNCIE, INDIANA.

DIFFERENTIAL GEARING.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, HUGH L. VARNER,

a citizen of the United States, and residing at the city of Muncie, inthe county of Delaware and State of Indiana, have invented new anduseful Improvements in Differential Gearing, and of which invention thefollowing is a specification.

This invent-ion relates to differential or compensating gearing of thattype wherein the ends of the alined shafts, are provided with spur gearwheels, and sets of pinions which mesh with each other and which withthe spur gear .wheels are carried in a housing or hollow drum-shapedframe which is rotated about the axial center of the said shafts, and bywhich rotating frame the shafts are driven. In this class of gearing,the strains imposed, have strong tendency to deflect the shafts out oftrue alinement, and also to displace same in directions bothlongitudinally and transversely the result being unequal wear of thebearings and of the teeth of the gear wheels and pinions, and ultimatelyin noisy operation and disability.

The objects of the present invent-ion are to improve the construction ofsuch gearing and to that end to provide a gearing and a housing andretaining structure therefor of such form, arrangement and function,that the gearing will withstand the heaviest strains wit-hout becomingin the least de-l ranged, and which will be compact, of fewy parts,economical of manufacture and which will be strong and durable.

These and other more specific objects, as will presently appear, areaccomplished by the improved construction, combination and arrangementof parts constituting my invention, and which are described in thespeciication, defined in the appended claims, and

illustrated in the accompanying drawingsj Corresponding parts aredesignated by similar characters of reference throughout the severalviews 1n the drawings, 1n which Figure l is a central sectional view ofmy improved gearing mounted upon ball bear-` ings carried by thepreferable form of case' ment or frame shown, and adapted to be driventhrough bevel gear connections with the driving shaft. Fig. 2, Fig. 3,and Fig. 4, are central sectionalviews taken on the line 2 2, 3, and 4respectively in Fig. l and as `seen in the direction indicated by thearrows. F ig. 5 is a central sectional view Specification of LettersPatent.

Application filed September 25, 1909.

Patented Feb. 27, 1912.

serial No. 519,506.

taken on the line 5 5 Fig. 3 and as seen in the direction indicated bythe arrow.

My improved differential gearing comprises the usual shafts inalinement, which for the purposes of this description, are designated asthe shafts Av A1. These shafts A A1 have the gear wheels B B1, securedthereto, and the ends of said shafts and the hubs of the said gearwheels will register with each other. Carried by the said shafts andadapted to inclose and support the sets of pinions C and D, is thehousing which will be rotated by driving power suitably applied at itsperipheral portion. In this description of my invention wherein it isshown in the form or embodiment desirable for use in motor car orautomobile construction, I have shown the said housing equipped with thebevel gear wheel E which is secured to the peripheral flange of saidhousing. The driving shaft F has secured thereto the bevel pinion Grwhich 4meshes with the gear wheel E.

It will be readily seen that when the housing is moved, both of theshafts, A A1, by virtue of their engagement with said housing, throughthe gear wheels B B1 and the pinions C and D, will be rotated at thesame speed. By the operation of the pinions which perform the usualfunction, and

which have the well known arrangement in ficiently well known, that withthe construction as clearly shown in the drawings, further descriptionherein of its construction and operation is deemed unnecessary.

In differential gearing of the character described it is essential, inorder that positive and reliable performance of the device may beassured and unequal wear of the parts prevented, that the ends of theshafts A A1, and the gear wheels B B1 and the pinions C and D shall beretained in correct position at all times so that they will not bedislodged or strained even slightly out of alinement.

The foregoing desirable results are obtained by the improved andsuperior combination, arrangement and structure of the parts now to bespecifically described.

As plainly shown in Fig. l my improved housing is composed of thecomplemental of this type is designed and operated is sufhalf sections Hand H1. The hubs of these half sections are of proper internal bore toallow suitable clearance A2 between same and the shafts A A1, and are'socounterbored that they will be journaled on the Vouter portions of thehubs of the gear wheels The depth of these counterbores with referenceto t-he length of the outer portions of the hubs of the gea-r wheels BB`1`isf' such that there is provided the clearance B2. The saidhalfsections are connected and `their "meeting faces H2 will be joinedtogether snugly by the bolts I. The annular offsets o'rffr'abbets H3forma space in'which fthe peripheral portions ofthe spider J willfrm'fthe double function of Lholding the half sections Hand "H1'securelytogetlier and of 'holding the spider securely in position.

' The-inner and outer sidesofthe gear wheels B'B1 will have bearingagainst the sides of vthefhub J2 of the spider and against the innerfaces of the housing walls, respectively.

To minimize fthe friction between the hubsof the `gear'wlheels B B1 andthe counterbo'res o'flfthe housing, is the object of the clearances B2between the ends of the outer portions of `said hubs and the seats ofsaid counterbo-res.

It is `essential that the shafts O which '-carryfthe pinions VC and D,shall be anchored firmly so thaty there will be no yielding or springingof same. To accomplish -this the thickened portions H6 ofthe halfsections H 45 vand H1 arev provided.

the pinions are fcarried. These shafts are O 'and O designate` theVshaftsfupon which rigidlysecured in said thickened portions in themanner as shown in Fig. 5. Thus supported, a bea-ring for the pinions Cand D ofsuch solidity and strength lis lprovided `that a `correctmeshing of the pinions and lthe''gear wheels B and B1 will be assured,

and button holing7 ofthe shaft where it passes through the wall of thehousing will be avoided. These 'thickened portions be- Y ing Valternatedin their positions and lthe samefand the walls ofthe housing being soformed as to engage the ends ofthe pinionsand the sides of the gearwheels B and B1, the partsare-all so mutually counterbraced that the'mostsevere strains will not dislodge or spring any of YVthe parts outofficorrect position. While in lthi's 'illustration of -the inventionfour sets of'fpinions are shown, it

isobvious that by modifying the form of the spider a different number ofsets of pinions .may be used.

Advantages of my invention are that the housing members and t-he spider,constructed and combined as shown, will hold Lall of theparts solidly incorrect alinement;

freedom of mo-tion of the operating parts is always assured and unequalstrain and wear of the parts is prevented. ACoupled with the foregoingadvantages are the improvements in construction and in the detailing ofthe several elements and their connections.

The universalform of means for driving this character of differentialgearing, being that of a bevel pinion G carried by a driving shaft F andwhich isadapted to mesh with a bevel gear wheel orring secured to thehousing; the preferable form of external structure of the half sectionswhich constitute my improved housing, is as shown in Fig. 1. On theperipheral flange H4 is secured the bevel gear wheel'or ring E; the

yinternal lface of the opposite iiange H5 is machined. Journaled on theend of the driving shaft F and below the bevel pinion Gr is a roller Khaving its face to 'register with the inner face of the flange H5.

By the internally threaded adjustment collars L which are screwed on thecent-ral lateral extensions or hubs of the housing, the ball bearings Mwhich are carried by a suitable casement or frame N may be at all timeskept in perfect adjustment, and at the same time, the position of thehousing longitudinally of the shafts A A1 may be so adjusted thatcorrect meshing of the bevel gear wheel E with the bevel pinion G may bealways assured. When the parts are working normally, the roller K willperform no function, but in case some outside strain might be imposedtending to strain the shaft F slightly out of alinement, the roller Kthen forms a bearing, the correct meshing of the bevel gear will bepreserved and derangement or unequal wear thereof will be prevent-ed. Inthe shouldered ends O1 of the shafts O are t-he lock members P, retainedthereon by cotter pins P1 and which 'lock members will engage thegrooves L1 of the adjustment collars and hold 'the latter againstmovement.

The assembling of the parts constituting my present invention is easilyaccomplished.

The gear wheels B and B1 are secured rigidly to the ends of the shafts AA1, the spider is thenl placed in position'with its hub engaging'theinner portion ofthe hubs of the gear wheels, then the halfsections aremoved together, the 'free ends of the shafts O upon which the pinions Cand D are journaled and lwhich will mesh with'the gear wheels B and B1,`being-passed through Y suitable bores provided therefor in the walls ofthe hal-f sections ofthe housing. Then with the tightening ofthe bolts Imy im` or spirit of my invention and without sacrificing any of itsadvantages.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent ofthe United States, is-

1. A housing for differential gearing of the kind described, comprisinghalf sections provided with central journal bearings and havingthickened portions in the walls to alternate with each other and whereinto anchor the shafts for the pinions, the meeting faces of said halfsections having reoesses to register with each other, a spider havingits peripheral portion to fit in said recesses, and having a centraljournal bearing, and which spider has openings through which may bepassed the pinions, and means to hold the said spider and the halfsections of said housing securely together.

2. A housing for differential gearing of the kind described, comprisinga hollow drum shaped centrally divided housing, the meeting faces of theperipheral portions of `the half sections being provided with annularoffsets or rabbets which will register with each other, and said halfsections each being provided with a central ournal bearing and havingthickened portions in the walls wherein to anchor the shafts for thepinions, a spider of such diameter that its peripheral edges will fitsnugly in the space between the meeting offsets in the housing, saidspider having transverse recesses in its peripheral face, and beingprovided with a central journal bearing, and bolts to bind the saidhalfsections securely together and which bolts will engage the said recessesin the peripheral edges of the said spider.

3. In adevice of the kind described, a pair of shafts, gear wheelssecured on the meeting ends of same and having outwardly eX- tendedhubs, a housing composed of half sections having central lateralextensions jour naled on the outer portions of the hubs of the gearwheels but having no bearing on the shafts, and the walls of the halfsections being provided with thickened portions in alternated positionsand forming foundations for the pinion shafts substantially asdescribed, shafts rigidly secured in said thickened portions, a spiderin the bore of which is journaled the inner ends of the hubs of the gearwheels, the body portion of which spider has openings through which thepinions may be passed, and means to hold together the spider and thehalf sections.

It. In a device of the kind described, a pair of shafts, gear wheelssecured on the meeting ends of same and having outwardly eX- tendedhubs, a housing composed of half sections having central lateralextensions journaled on the outer portions of the hubs of the gearwheels but having no bearing on the shafts, and the walls of the halfsections being provided with thickened portions in alternate positionsand forming foundations for the pinion shafts, substantially asdescribed, shafts rigidly secured in said thickened portions, a spiderin the bore of which is journaled the inner ends of the hubs of the gearwheels, the body portion of which spider has openings through which thepinions may be passed, and bolts to pass transversely through theperipheral portions of the half sections to secure the half sectionstogether and which bolts engage the peripheral portion of the spider.

5. A housing for a differential gearing of the kind described,comprising a hollow drum shaped centrally divided housing, the meetingfaces of the peripheral portions of the half sections being providedwith annular offsets or rabbets which will register with each other,said half sections each being provided with a central journal bearingand having thickened portions in the walls wherein to anchor the shaftsfor the pinions, a spider of such diameter that its peripheral edgeswill tit snugly in the space between the meeting offsets in the housing,bolts to bind the said half sections securely together and which boltswill engage the peripheral edges of said spider, a bearing membercarried by and adjustable longitudinally on each of the central journalbearings of the said housing, means carried by the housing to hold thesaid bearing members in different adjusted positions, and a frame havingbearings in which said bearing members will work.

6. In a device of the kind described, the combination of a pair ofshafts, gear wheels secured to same at their meeting ends, a housingconsisting of separable halfsections having the inner surfaces of thewalls to engage the outer faces of the gear wheels and the hubs of saidhalf sections being of suitable bore to form journals for the outerportions of the hubs of the gear wheels, and

there being thickened portions in the walls of said half sections, toalternate with each other in position and to form foundations in whichto anchor the shafts of the pinions, shafts rigidly secured in saidthickened portions, pinions to mesh with each other and with the gearwheels journaled on said shafts and having their ends to bear againstthe sides of the thickened portions and the innerfaces of the walls ofthe half sections, and the meeting peripheral portions of the halfsections having offsets therein to form a recess between the faces ofthe half sections when same are secured together, and a spider havingits peripheral edges to lit in said recess and having a hub in which theinner portions of the hubs of the gear Wheels are journaled, the ends ofwhich hub Will engage the inner face of the gear Wheels.

7. In a device of the kind described, the combination of a pair ofshafts, gear Wheels secured to same at their meeting ends, a housingconsisting of separable half-sections having the inner surfaces of theWalls to engage the outer faces of the gearl Wheels and the hubs of saidhalf sections being of suitable bore to form journals for the outerportions of the hubs of the gear Wheels, and there being thickenedpo-rtions in the Walls of said half sections to alternate With eachother in position and to form foundations in Which to anchor the shaftsfor the pinions, shafts rigidly secured in said thickened portions,pinions to mesh With each other and With the gear Wheels that arejournaled on said shafts and which have their ends to bear against thesides of the't-hickened portions and the inner faces of the Walls of thehalf sections, and the meeting peripheral portions of the half sectionshaving oisets therein to form a recess between the faces of the halfsections when they are secured together, a spider having its peripheraledges to t in said recess and having a hub in Which the inner portionsof the hubs of the gear vheels are journaled the ends of which hub Willengage the inner faces of the gear Wheels, bearing rings adjustablelongitudinally on the outer portions of the hubs of the half-sections ofthe housing, a frame having bearings fo-r said bearing rings, and dogscarried on the outer ends of t-he pinion shafts to hold the bearingrings in different adjusted positions.

8. The combination of a housing for dif ferential gearing of the kinddescribed, comprising half sections having hubs to form journal bearingsfor the outer portions of the hubs of the gear wheels, and being pro-ivided with thickened portions alternately arranged to providefoundations for the pinion shafts, the internal edges of the meetingperipheral faces of the half sections being recessed, a spider having ahub in Which the inner portions of the gear Wheels are journaled and theperipheral edges of Which will engage said recess, and means to bind thesaid half-sections and the peripheral portions of the spidertogether,substantially as described.

9. In a device of the kind described, a pair of shafts, gear Wheelssecured on the meeting ends of said shafts and having outwardly extendedhubs, a housing composed of half sections having central lateral eX-tensions journaled on the outer portions of the hubs of the gear Wheelsbut having no bearing on the shaft-s, and the Walls of the half sectionsbeing provided With thickened portions in alternated posit-ions andforming foundations for the pinion shafts, shafts rigidly secured insaid thickened portions, a member in the bore of which is journaled theinner ends of the hubs of the gear Wheels and means to hold together thehalf sections.

'10. The combination of a pair of shafts, gear Wheels secured to same attheir meeting ends, a housing consisting of separable half-sectionshaving the inner surfaces of the Walls to engage the outer faces of thegear Wheels and the hubs of said half sections being of suitable bo-reto form journals for the outer portions of the hubs of the gear Wheels,and there being thickened portions in the Walls of said half sections toalternate with each other in position and to form foundations in Whichto Vanchor the shafts for the pinions, shafts rigidly secured in saidthickened portions, pinions to mesh With each other and With the gearWheels that are journaled on said shafts and which have their ends tobear against the sides of the thickened portions and the inner faces ofthe Walls of the half sections, and a member having a bore in Which theinner portions of the hubs of the gear Wheels are journaled, the ends ofWhich member will engage the inner face of the gear Wheels.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name to thisspeciiication in the presence of tWo subscribing Witnesses.

' HUGH L. VARNER.

IVitnesses:

BERTHA SCOTT, CHAs. E. CoREY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained forive cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

